Mail box



Oct. 26 1926 J. C. BEER MAIL BOX Filed April 26 i 1925 fien 70/ Jean 1 7% Patented Got. 26, 1925.

entree stares JAMES C. BEER, OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

. MAIL BOX.

. Application filed April 23, 1925. Serial No. 25,260.

This invention relates to improvements in mail boxes, particularly adapted for usein apartment houses and hotels.

' In the distribution of mail addressed to occupants of apartment houses or hotels, the rules and regulations of the mail department require that the mail carrier leave all such mail in charge of the proprietor of the hotel or apartment. In other words, the mail carrier is not authorized to deliver such mail to each room or apartment, hence it is necessary for the proprietor to segregate the mail and deliver or hold such mail for the occupants of the hotel or apartment. This obviously puts a burden on the proprietor and the occupantsof the apartment or hotel must rely on the proprietor for final delivery of the mail.

If the tenants or occupants of the hotel or apartment do not receive their mail promptly, or certain letters which they may be expecting, it often leads to disputes in which the efliciency or integrity of the proprietor sometimes is questioned.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mail receivingand delivery box in which a plurality of lock receiving boxes are provided, each box having adistinct lock and key, the keys being retained by the occupants of the hotel or apartment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mail box having a plurality of lock boxes mounted on a hinged door, each of said boxes having an individual lock and key which is retained by the occupants of the hotel or apartment, said doors being adapted to open on the outside of the door when the door is closed, the door being providerl with a. hasp engaging a staple adapted to receive a lock furnished by the United States mail department, the key to whicl is retained by the postman.

Another object of the invention is to pro-. vide a mail distributing and receiving box constructed in such a manner that letters deposited therein cannot be removed by any other person than the mail carrier.

Another object of the invention is to pro. vide a mail box, havinga plurality of lock boxes and'cons'tructed in such a manner that the letters deposited therein by the mail carrier cannot be removed except by the individuals who are in possession of the keys adapted to open the doors of said boxes.

' A further object of the invention is to provide a mail receiving and distributing box having a large compartment adapted to receive packages and parcel post, this compartment being arranged in a position within the mail box so that the letters 'deposited therein for collection by the postman, will not drop into said compartment, the compartment being provided with a door and lock, the key of which is retained by the proprietor of the apartment house or hotel, who is required to sign for such packages placed therein.

These objects are accomplished by the disclosure herein set forth, illustrating a practical embodiment of the invention reference being bad to the following description of the accompanying drawings, the novel features hereof being pointed out inthe ap pended claims, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved mail box as it appears when closed. Fig. 2 1s a horizontal section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation analogous to Fig. 1 showing the improved mail box-as it appears when open for insertionof mail by the postman.

Fig. t is a horizontal section taken on the line Q- l of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevation showing in detail one of the lock boxes.

Referrmg by numerals to the accompanying drawings, 10 generally designates the.

improved mail box which is in the form of a casing having a top 11, sides 12 and 13 and a back 14. A shelf 15 is positioned between the sides 12 and 13, above the floor line F.

The improved mail box may be built in to a building in which case the front of the mail box may be flush with the wall indicated at W.

The cabinet 10 is provided with a door D .which is secured to the side 12 by hinges 16.

described. Each of the lock boxes are provided with a card or other insignia which bears the name of the individual retaining each of said boxes. The outer end of each of the lock boxes are provided with a door 27 having hinges 28 secured to the partitions 23 or the side 21 of the frame 17, as the case may be. Each of the doors are provided with a lock 29, the bolt of which is adapted to engage a keeper 30 secured to the horizontal partition 24 or the top 18 of the frame 17 as the case may be. 7

A hasp 31 is securely fastened to the outer side of the door Dand is adapted to fit over avstaple 32, securely fastened to the side 13 of the casing, and a pad-lock 33 furnished by the mail department is adapted to engage the staple 32 when the door is closed.

A mail slot 34 is provided in the door D through which letters for collection by the mail carrier may be deposited. The letters passing through the slot 34 fall into a com partment 35 formed by a partition 36 ex tending upwardly on the shelf A mail chute 36 extends through the top 11 adjacent the side This mail chute ma obviouslybe carried up several floors ant the mail dropped therein will also fall into the compartment 35.

It will be seen that when the cabinet is closed as is clearly shown in Fig. 2, the bottom 19 of the frame extends over the top edge of the partition 36, but still allowssufficient space, indicated at 37, for the mail passing from the chute 36 to the compartment 35.

A door 38 is connected to the door Dby hinges 39 and is positioned just below the bottom 19 of the frame 17. The door 38 is providedwith a lock 40, the bolt of which is adapted to engage a keeper 41. A compartment 42 is formed between the partition 36 and the side 12, thiscompartinent being used for the delivery of second class mail, in-' cluding large packages or parcel post. The key to the lock 40 is retained'by the proprietor of the hotel or apartment who is required to sign for the packages which are placed within the compartment 42.

It will be noted that when the door 38 is open, and the door D is closed and locked, the mail within the compartment 35 cannot be reached, as the partition 36, the bottom 19 of the frame 17 and door D form a complete enclosure surrounding the compartment 42.

From the constructon it will be seen that when the postman delivers mail, the door D is opened as shown in Figs. .1 and 3, the letters and magazines are then inserted through the .openings25 into the various lock boxes 22, at which time'he will. then be enabled to collect the mail which has accumu lat-ed in the compartment 35. The door D is then closed and locked by the postman.

The occupants or tenants of the hotel or apartment retaining the keys to the locks 29 may then collect their mail by opening the doors 27. I

Referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that the doors 27 tightly close the ends of the lock boxes 22, with the exception of a small opening at the top in which calling cards or other notices may be placed.

From the construction it will be seen that the frame 17 and the lock boxes therein, are constructed in very compact formation and extend slightly in a diagonal direction in order that the corner of the frame will not strike the side 13 when the door D is opened or closed.

Thus it will be seen that a mail box of very simple and compact construction is provided which will occupy a minimum amount of space and at the same-time is capable of receiving a considerable amount of mail, it being particularly noted that the lock boxes are large enough to receive magazines, for instance of a size similar to that of the Ladies Home Journal.

From the above description together with the drawings it willbe noted that a characteristic feature of my invention is the mounting of the individual lock boxes open at the back on the main door, this door forming a closure for the cabinet. The mail boxes are inclined relative to the door, thereby leaving a space 37 which is suitable for inserting mail either through the slot 3 l or through the mail chute 36. This mail dropping into the compartment 35 may be designated as a receiving compartment as it receives mail deposited by the public to be removed by the postman.

7 On account ofthe partition 36 the compartment 4-2 is cut off from the compartment 1.,A mail box comprising a c! iug open at its outer end. a door hinged to casing, a plurality of lock boxes formed on the inner side of said door, said lock bores being open at their inner ends. each of said lock boxes being provided with a door and separate locks at their outer ends. a vertical partition within said casing below said lock boxes at right angles to said door when closed, a mail receiving compartment being formed on one side of said partition, a mail delive y compartment being formed on the other side of said partition between said partition and the sides of said casing, said door having. an opening opposite said delivery compartment, a second door hinged to said first door adapted to close the opening in the first door and means for locking said first door when closed.

2. A mail box comprising a casing having side walls, a back and top, said side walls and top forming an opening, a door hinged to one of said side walls adapted to close said opening, said door having an opening formed therein, a frame positioned within the opening in said door and extending rearwardly, a plurality of lock boxes formed within said frame, each of said boxes being open at their inner ends and provided with a door for closing and locking each of said boxes at their outer ends, a second opening formed withinsaid door below said frame, a second door hinged to said first door and adapted to close the second opening in said first door, a horizontal shelf within said casing below said second door, a vertical partition forming a mail receiving compartment on one side and a mail delivery compartment on the other side thereof, when said first dooris closed, said first door having a mail slot on the side adjacent said receiving compartment, said second door adapted to open said delivery compartment, a mail chute ex tending through the top of said casing directly above said receiving compartment and means for locking said first door to said casing.

3. A mail box comprising a casing open at its outer end, a substantially fiat door for closing said casing, a plurality of lock boxes mounted as a unit on the inner side of said door, each of said lock boxes being open at its inner end and each ofsaid boxes being provided with a door at its forward end,'the construction of the casing and of the door with the boxes thereon forming when the door is closed with the boxes fitting in thecasing, a compartment for receiving mail and a compartment separate therefrom for the dehvery of mail.

4. A mail box comprising a casing open at the front, a substantially fiat door hinged to the casing forming a closure for said opening, a plurality of lock boxes on the inside of the door, said boxes being open at the back for insertion of mail and having individual lock doors, said boxes forming with the casing and inside the casing when the door is closed a compartment below the boxes for delivery of mail and a secondary door in the first mentioned door below the boxes forming an opening to said compartment.

5. A mail box comprising in combination a casing open at the front, a door hinged to the casing forming a closure for said opening, a. stack of lock boxes on the inside of the door said boxes being open at the back for insertion of mail and having individual lock doors, said boxes forming with the easing when the door is closed, a compartment at one side of the boxes for receiving mail and a slot to insert mail in the receiving compartment. I

6. A mail box comprising in combination a casingopen at the front, a door hinged to "the casing, forming a closure for the open' front, a stack of lock boxes on the inside of thedoor said boxes being open at the back for insertion of mail and having individual lock doors, said stack of boxes forming with the casing when the door is closed, a space 8. A mail box comprising in combination.

a casing, open at the front, a main door forming a closure for said opening, a stack of lock boxes on the inside of the door, a partition in the casing below the level of the bottom of the boxes, the stack of boxes forming with the casing the lower portion of the door and the partition when the door is closed, a plurality of compartments and a space at the side of the stack of boxes, the said compartments being for receiving and delivering mail, a secondary door in the main door below the stack of boxes leading into the delivery compartment and means to insert mail into the space in the casing, said space having an opening to'the mail receiv-' ing compartment but not to the mail delivering compartment.

9. A mail box comprising a casing substantially rectangular in horizontal cross section, a main door hinged to said casing at one side thereof, a plurality of boxes secured to the inside of the door forming a unit,

each of said boxes being open at the back and having an individual door secured in the main door at the front, the unit of boxes being inclined relative to the door to allow the inner ends of the boxes to clear the side of the casingopposite the hinge on opening the door, the unit of boxes forming with the side of the casing a space at one side opposite the hinge for the reception of deposited mail, and means to deposit said mail into said space. V

10. A mail box comprising a casing substantially rectangular in horizontal cross section, a main door hinged to said casing at oneside thereof, a plurality of boxes secured 'to' the inside of the door forming a unit,

7 each of said boxes being open at the back and havingan individual door secured in the main door at the front, the unit of boxes being inclined relative to the door to allow the inner ends of the boxes to clear the side of the casing opposite the hinge on opening the door, the unit of boxes forming with the 10 casing at the side opposite the hinge a space for receiving deposited mail, a partition below the unit of boxes to hold said deposited mail and a second door through the main door below the unit of boxes on the hinge side of the partition for insertion of mail by the postman. V

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification;

JAMES C. BEER. 

